Jilin Machinery Bureau Former Site: A Qing Dynasty Munitions Factory

The Jilin Machinery Bureau Former Site, located at No. 204 Jiangwan Road, Dongjuzi Subdistrict, Changyi District, Jilin City, Jilin Province, was a munitions factory established during the Qing Dynasty to supply weapons and ammunition to Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces and strengthen border defenses. Construction began in the seventh year of the Guangxu reign (1881) and was completed in the ninth year, costing 240,000 taels of silver. The Jilin Machinery Bureau was the only arsenal in Northeast China during the Westernization Movement and the first modern industry in Northeast China. Its production equipment was purchased from Europe and the United States, mainly for the production of firearms, bullets, cannons, gunpowder, and other military supplies. The Jilin Machinery Bureau underwent several name changes and reconstructions throughout its history. Originally called the Jilin Machinery Bureau, it was later renamed the "Jilin Mint" and the "Jilin Ordnance Bureau." During the Russian invasion in 1900, the machinery bureau was damaged, and its equipment was taken away. In 1928, the bureau was rebuilt, and a blue-brick wall and watchtowers were added. During the puppet Manchukuo period, it was converted into the Jilin First National High School. Today, the Jilin Machinery Bureau Former Site has become an important historical relic and cultural landmark. The "Jilin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau Exhibition" within the site displays a wealth of historical artifacts and materials, helping people understand this significant history. In 2019, the Jilin Machinery Bureau Former Site was listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. Jilin Machinery Bureau Former Site